MINNEAPOLIS, MN—Wanner Engineering announced that it had won a court judgement in China for an infringement against one of its patents for its Wanner Hydra-Cell seal-less diaphragm pumps.
The engineering company is investing tens of millions of dollars in new technology to continue delivering innovation for its customers to help improve their processes. With 159 patents worldwide and 11 in China, it has an active programme to protect these to ensure that its R&D continues effectively.
This programme has helped to give the seal-less and packing-free Hydra-Cell pumps a range of benefits to customers, such as:
- High efficiency – lowering energy consumption
- Ability to reliably and safely handle many difficult process liquids with 20 years plus service life – lowering the total cost of ownership
Wanner was able to stop the counterfeiters who were making very poor quality pumps, sending an important message that it is protecting its rights and doing everything it can to stop the copying of patented innovations – and to protect customers.
Specifically, Wanner took Shanghai Nikuni to court for infringement of one of its Chinese patents covering innovative features in the pumps. The defendant then filed invalidation proceedings with the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA).
However, Wanner prevailed in the court proceedings and the patent was upheld and found to be valid by the CNIPA, even after an appeal. The patent was also found to have been infringed by the Shanghai Intellectual Property Count and damages have been awarded to Wanner.
Wanner also won a second infringement case as well as a second invalidation action in the CNIPA against another counterfeiter. This matter is currently going through the appeal process, but Wanner is confident infringement will be confirmed.
The successful court decisions are especially significant during a critical time in the global economy, when third-party infringement is increasing rapidly. More than ever, this positive outcome reinforces that Wanner will not allow counterfeiting to occur without action and that it is essential to deal with these issues to protect brands and companies.
Wanner is a global company with a subsidiary in China, where the proceedings took place. Chinese Counsel represented the company in the litigation, managed by Wanner’s Minneapolis based patent counsel Merchant & Gould.
